Assignments for Thursday, March 24, 2011

• Learn the following vocabulary words: anti-Semitism, atrocity, Auschwitz, catalyst, coerce, cognition, connote, conscript, crematorium, denote, genocide, improvise, latent, pogrom, propaganda
• Be able to pronounce all of the above words correctly
  
• Read the following article: "In Jedwabne"

Assignments for Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Remember, scholars, these readings are intended to give you practice in evaluating real-world arguments in real time. This isn't a physics or engineering class, so you won't be quizzed over the technical terms and processes discussed in these articles. It is important, however, to understand the general thrust of the ideas put forth in these articles. All three articles are from non-technical publications and are the kinds of readings any well-educated adult should be able to follow and understand.

• Know the meanings of these terms: Chernobyl, containment, half-life, trivializing
• Read "Japan Does Not Face Another Chernobyl"
• Read "How Worried Should We Be About Radiation from Japan's Nuclear Plant?"
• Read "Ex-Sandia Engineer..."

In addition to helping you understand and compose argumentation essays, this assignment has a side benefit: if you put a reasonable amount of time into reading and studying these articles, you will become nine of the most knowledgable members of the Motlow community (including faculty) on nuclear accidents and reactors. Whether that prospect is inspiring or frightening (or both) is for you to decide.

Assignments for Thursday, March 17, 2011

• Vocabulary: culmination, explicit, innocuous, paternalism, placate, risque, tangible
• Reading: "Ruining Kids in Order to Save Them"
• Be prepared to discuss and evaulate the quality of sources used in "Doomsday: How BP Gulf Disaster May Have Triggered a 'World-Killing' Event" (Again, this won't be on the quiz)

In-class writing

What have you read or discussed so far in this course that has persuaded you to change your opinion or belief in some way? Why was it persuasive? If nothing you've read has changed your opinions or thinking in any way, then what reading has come closest or missed the most widely? Why?

Assignments for Thursday, March 3, 2011

Here are your assignments for Thursday:

• Vocabulary: markedly, stringent, sea change, zealous
• “Gun Control’s Twisted Outcome”
• Evaulate the quality of sources used in the following article: "Doomsday: How BP Gulf Disaster May Have Triggered a 'World-Killing' Event" (This one won't be on your quiz, but we will discuss it in class Thursday)
  

Starting with Thursday's quiz, we'll have a few more questions on the content of readings and fewer on vocabulary. You'll still benefit greatly from learning and being able to use these vocabulary words, but quiz questions on readings will be more balanced between vocabulary and content.